Vending apparatus or machine.



P. G. AXT & B. B. G OODRIOH.

VENDING APPARATUS 0R MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1912.

1,053,897, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F G. AXT & B. B. GOODRIGH. VENDING APPARATUS OR MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1912. 1,053,897, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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WITNESSES: INVENTORS: wow? v M Web/1,014

ATTORNEYS CULUMBIA Pumoamn C0,. WASHINGTON 1) c F. G. AXT & B. B.GOODRICH.

VENDING APPARATUS 0R MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEG, 1912.,

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR s;

flwwkv, ATTORNEYS PATENT ()FFICE.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK G. AXT AND BEBTR-AM B. GOODRICH, OF NEWARK, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM J. BIB-KEN, OF NEWARK, NEWJERSEY.

VENDING APPARATUS 0R MACHINE.

Original application filed July 24, 1911, Serial No. 640,053.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, FREDERICK G. Am andBERTRAM B. Goooniori, citizens of the United States, residing at-Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vending Apparatus or Machines;and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart towhich it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has reference, generally, to improvements in vendingmachines; and, the present invention is in the nature of a division ofour former application for Let ters-Patent for improvement in vendingmachines, filed July 24th, 1911, Serial Number 640,053.

Our present invention has for one of its principal objects to provide anovel and simply constructed vending-machine, the mechanism of whichcomprises a normally locked rock-plate, a coin-receiving chute, andmeans connected with the chute and adapted to be actuated by a coin,whereby the disengaged relation of the locking means from the rock-plateis produced.

The invention has for its further and very important object, a novelarrangement of coin-chute comprising a chute-member formed with an openor cut-away portion, in which there is a gate pivotally arranged withrelation to said open portion, and means cooperating with said gate andhav ing a member adapted to be brought in contact or engagement with apackage in the frame-work of the machine to close said gate, and whennot in such contact or engagement with a package, causing the said gateto assume an opened relation to the chute-member, whereby the depositedcoin is returned to the prospective purchaser.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularlyenumerated will be clearly understood from the following detaileddescription of the said invention.

'With the various objects of the said invention in view, the inventionconsists in the novel arrangements and combinations of the variousdevices and parts, as well as in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Divided and this application filed June 6,

Serial No. 701,951.

details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fullydescribed in the following specification, and then finally embodied inthe clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form anessential part of the said specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure l is a central vertical transverse sectional representationof the shell or cas ing of a vending apparatus or machine of the generalconstruction set forth in said application for Letters-Patent, SerialNumber 640,053, with the cover-member of the main shell or casing andthe rotary goodscontaining frame-Work of the machine, omitted from saidView, but illustrating in connection with said view, and in elevation,the general arrangement of the devices and parts embodying theprinciples of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail verticalsectional representation, on an enlarged scale, showing in part an edgeview and crosssectional representation of the coin-chute, a rock-shaftand a normally locked rock-plate, with means for operating the same,when the rock-plate is released, and also showing in connection with thecoin-chute, the mechanism which is adapted to be actuated by a depositedcoin, for releasing the said rockplate; Fig. 3 is a similarrepresentation of the parts illustrated in said Fig. 2, but representingthe said parts in their operated relation; Fig. 4 is a detail sectionalrepresentation, taken on line 44 in said Fig. 2, looking in thedirection of the arrow :0, with certain parts of the mechanismrepresented in said Fig. 2, omitted from said Fig. 4; and Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the said parts represented in said Fig. 4, but showingthe relative positions of the said parts, when a coin has been lodged inthe bottom of the said coin chute. Fig. 6 is a detail vertical sectionof the upper coin-receiving portion of the shell or casing of thevending-machine, and portions of the ooinchute, the flap or gate beingshown in its opened relation, to direct the coin into an auxiliary chutefor delivery to the outside of the shell or casing. Fig. 7 is a detailvertical section of a portion of the shell or casing of the apparatus,and a transverse section of the upper portion of the coin-chute and of aportion of the goods-containing framework,

saidv view showing in connection therewith, the closed position of agate or flap pivotally connected with the coin-chute, and in sideelevation the mechanism in engagement with said gate or flap, fordelivering the coin to the mechanism to be operated by the coin, as longas there is a package contained in the goods or package-containingcolumn of the rotary frame-work of the vending machine; and Fig. 8 is asectional representa tion similar to that represented in said Fig. 7,but showing the position of the pivoted gate or flap when there is nopackage remaining in the goods or package-containing column of the saidrotary frame-work. Fig. 9 is a detail horizontal section, taken on line99 in said Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow y, with certainparts of the mechanism shown in said Fig. 8 omitted from said Fi 9; andFig. 10 is a detail face view of one of the coin-chute members providedat its side with an open or cut-away part and a pivoted or hingedclosing gatelike member or flap arranged in said open part.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the said abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indi cates a suitably shaped shell or casing whichis suitably mounted upon a base-plate 2, and is surrounded by a flange,as 3, with which the said base-plate is provided. The upper part of theshell is provided with the vertical shaft or spindle-supporting disk orframe, and the glass-closure of our former application, Serial Number640,053, this disk or frame and the glass-closure, however, beingomitted from the present drawings.

The base'plate 2 is provided with the centrally disposed socketed hub 4,in which are arranged a number of anti-friction balls 5 which form withsaid hub a suitable pedestal-bearing for the lower and preferablypointed end-portion 7 of a vertical shaft or spindle 6, and upon whichis mounted, in the manner of our said application 640,053, thegoods-carrying frame, the upper portion of the said shaft or spindle, aswell as the said goods-carrying frame being omitted from the presentdrawings. Other parts of the mechanism, such as the means for initiallyproducing the intermittent rotary movements of the goods-containingcylinder or frame-work are also omitted from the drawings of the presentapplication, or arereceiving slot 1.0 and an inwardly extend ingcoin-directing chute 11 which passes through the opening 8 andterminates di rectly in front of the main coin-delivering chute 12 ofthe vending machine or apparatus.

The coin-operated mechanism, which embodies the principal features ofthe present invention comprises a pair of brackets or posts, as 13 and14 which are suitably mounted upon the said base-plate 2, said bracketshaving bearing-portions in which is oscillatorily supported a rockshaft15. This shaft 15 is provided at one end thereof with a crank 16, withwhich is pivotally connected by means of a pivot or pin 17, a link 18,said link being also pivotally connected by means of a pivot or pin 19with a rock plate 20. This rocleplate is pivotally mounted upon a pivotor pin 21 carried by a bracket or post 22 which is also suitably securedupon said base-plate 2, said rockplate 20 being provided in its uppermarginal edge-portion with a recess or depression 23, the purpose ofwhich will be presently more fully described. The said rockplate 20 isalso provided with another pivot or pin 24, with which is pivotallyconnected a link 25, said link 25 being pivotally connected by means ofa pivot or pin 26, with a vertically moving reciprocatory slide,

s 27. This slide has an elongated opening or slot 28 in which arearranged the shanks of screws or pins 29 with which certain brackets 30,or other fastening devices, which are suitably secured upon the innerface of the shell or casing 1, are provided, so that the said slide maybe capable of its reciprocatory movements. That the said slide 27 may bepushed or forced into the lowered position shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawings, against the action of a coiled spring 31, which returns theseparts to their normal initial positions, after operation, the said slideis made with a forwardly extending member 32 which projects from asuitably formed slot in the shell or casing 1, said member beingprovided with a suitable fingerpiece 33 for the depression of the slide.

The operation of the mechanism which is mainly to oscillate therock-shaft 15, will be clearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 2and 3 of the drawings. Normally, however, this mechanism is lockedagainst movement until a coin of the proper denomination is inserted inthe coin-receiving slot 10 of the hollow casting 9, and directed bymeans of the coin-directing chute 11 into the main coinchute 12. Thischute consists, essentially of two main parts 34 and 35, the part 34being made in the form of a vertical piece of tubing of oblongcross-section, said part being supported in its vertical position bymeans of a bracket 36 which is suittea ably secured and mounted upon thebaseplate 2. The lower end-portion of said tubing 3-1 is closed by meansof a plate, as 37, which inclines in a downward direction from anopening 38 in the one narrow edge of the tubing to a coin-deliveryopening 39 in the opposite narrow edge of said tubing. Suitablyconnected with the upper end-portion of the said part 34 is the part 35,said part being made in the form of a partly horizontal and partlyinclined duct, and the higher and horizontal portion of said part orduct 35 terminating directly back of the opening 8 in the shell orcasing 1, and be neath the delivery-end of the coin-directing chute 11,substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings.

The means for locking the rock-shaft operating-mechanism againstmovement until a coin has been deposited in the lower portion of thepart or tube 34, and rests upon the plate 37, consists, essentially, ofa bracket or post 40 which is suitably mounted upon the base-plate 2,said bracket or post 10 being provided with a bearing-portion 11 inwhich is slidably arranged a pin 52. This pin 12 is provided with anannular flange 43 bearing normally against one side of the said bracketor post 40, and has a reduced end-portion, as 41, which normally extendsinto and rests within the previously mentioned recess or depression 23in the upper marginal edge of the rockplate 20, so as to positivelyprevent any movement of said rock-plate and the parts connectedtherewith. The said bracket or post 40 is provided with an arm, as e5.with which is pivotally connected, by means of a pin or pivot a6, abell-crank comprising the arm-members i7 and 48. The arm 47 is providedwith a curved plate 4&9 which normally closes the opening 38 of the partor tubing 3%, substantially in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7 of thedrawings, and the arm 18 of said bell-crank is pivotally connected withthe end-portion 50 of the pin 42, substantially as shown, a spring, as51, being arranged between and connected with the arm 15 and thearm-member 18 to normally retain these parts in their respectivepositions for closing the opening 38 and locking the rock-shaftoperatingmechanism against movement. As the coin has become lodged inthe lower portion of the part. or tube 34, the edge of the coin bearsupon the convex surface of the clos ing plate 19 and moves the sameslightly away from the opening 38, thus actuating the bellcrank andcausing the end-portion at of the pin 42 to be withdrawn from itsholding or locking engagement with the recess or depression 23 in theupper marginal edge of the rock-plate 20, the coils of the spring 51becoming distended, and the parts remaining in the positions shown inFig. 5

of the drawings, until the coin has passed from the opening 39 of thepart or tube The rock-shaft operating-mechanism can now be operated, bythe depression of the slide 27, as will be clearly understood, thuspermitting the rock-shaft 15 to actuate the package-ejecting mechanismin the manner set forth in the specification of our former application,Serial Number 640,053.

In order that the operator may not lose his or her coin, after it hasbeen deposited in the coin-chute, and when there is but one packageremaining in the space of the goods or package-containing cylinder orframework rotated into position, we have devised in connection with. thecoin-chute, the mechanism illustrated more particularly in Figs. 6, 7, 8and 9 of the drawings. As shown. the part 35 of the coin-chute, at apoint in alinement with the discharge-end of the coin-directing chute12, is cut-away, as at 52, and pivotally disposed in this cut-away partis a gate 53. This gate is provided at a suitable point near its lowermarginal edge, and extending in a downward direction preferably from oneof its hinge-ears 54:, with a projection or finger which is engaged bythe upper end-portion 56 of a rod 57 which is adapted to oscillate upona pin 58, connected with a bracket 59, or other suitable means, arrangedupon the inner surface of the shell or casing 1. The reference-character60 indicates another bracket in the lower portion of said shell orcasing at a point located in close proximity to the delivery-opening insaid shell or casing 1 This bracket 60 carries a pivot-pin or post 61upon which is oscillatorily arranged a swing-plate or element 62 whichis also connected with the said bracket 60 by means of a coiled spring63. The said plate or element 62 also has an arm or projection 64,carrying a pivot-pin 65 upon which is mounted a small roller 65, and isprovided also with a hook-shaped portion 67, and a flat spring 68 whichis secured at its one end by means of a pin 69 to said plate or member62, and has its other end-portioi extending directly over the saidhook-shaped portion 67, substantially as shown in Fig. 19 of thedrawings. The lower end-portion of the said rod 57 herein-abovementioned ex tends into the said hook-shaped portion 67 and isoperatively retained therein by the action of the spring 68 bearinglaterally against the said lower end-portion of the rod 57.

Under normal conditions, when there are at least two packages remainingin the goods or package-receiving space of the rotary cylinder orframework, as the latter is rotated into place, in the manner describedin our former application, Serial Number 640,053, the said roller 66rolls in front of and into an opening 70 formed between the bars orfront plates 72 of a bracket-like device 71 mounted upon the disk-likeplate '78 or the goods-containing cylinder or frame-work, as clearlyshown in Fig. 7 ot'the drawings. Thus, it will be seen, that when thesaid roller (56 engages wit-l1 the next lowest package, the gate 53 willbe caused to close the cutaway part 5 of the chute-member so that thedeposited coin will pass directly back of said gate 53 into thechute-member and thence into and down the chute-member 34: for thepurposes hereinbefore fully stated. lVhen, however, there is but onepackage left, the spring (33 will cause the various parts to assume therelative positions shown in F 8 of the drawings, the gate 53 extendingangularly into the chute-member 35, as represented, and a coin comingfrom the coindirecting chute 11 will pass directly upon the outer faceof said gate 53, will drop from the said gate into the upper open end ofa vertical chute 74:, from which the coin drops into thedelivery-opening of the shell or casing 1, so as to again be takenpossession of by the operator.

The mechanism for ejecting the lower package from the column of goods orpackages, forming the principal feature of our former application,Serial Number 640,053, in the present case is indicated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings in a general manner only, and comprises the guide-portion 74'and reciprocatory slide 75, which is moved, during the oscillations ofthe rock-shaft 15 by an arm 7 6 with which is pivotally connected a link77, and by means of which a bar or rod 78, which is pivotally connectedwith the base-plate 2, as represented in our said former application,Serial Number 640,053, is caused to rock and thereby actuate the saidreciprocatory slide to eject the lowest package from the column ofpackages. After the coin has become located in the lower portion of thepart of the tube 3 it is retained in the position shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings by the previously mentioned. closing plate 4-9, and a secondplate '75 which is arranged in the said opening 39 of the tube 84; but,being connected with the link 18 by means of an arm 76 and the part 7 7,said closing plate 75 is withdrawn from the said opening 39 to permitthe coin to roll through the said opening 39 from the said tube 34,immediately upon the actuation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, to theposition of the parts thereot shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

0 are fully aware that changes may be made in the general arrangementsand combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in thedetails of the construction of the said parts, without departing fromthe scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoingspecification and as defined in the clauses of the claim which areappended to the said specification. Hence, we do not limit our inventionto the exact arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts asdescribed in the said specification, nor do we confine ourselves to theexactdetails of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

Vi e claim 1. In a vending machine, the herein-do scribed means forlocking an oscillatory rock-plate, consisting of a post formed wit-h abearing-portion, a lock-pin slidably ar ranged in said bearing-portion,said lockpin having its respective end-portions projecting from theopposite ends of said bearing-portion, an arm extending from said post,a coin-actuated bell-crank pivoted upon said arm, said bell-crank beingpivotally connected with the one end-portion of said lock-pin, and aspring between said bell-crank and said post, substantially as and forthe purposes set forth.

2. In a vending machine, the herein-described means for locking anoscillatory rock-plate, consisting of a post formed with abearing-portion, a lock-pin slidably arranged in said bearing-portion,said lockpin having its respective endportions pro jecting from theopposite ends of said bearing-portion, an arm extending from said post,a coin-actuated bell-crank pivoted upon said arm, said bell-crank beingpivotally connected with the one end-portion of said lock-pin, and aspring between said bell-crank and said post, combined with a sectorprovided with a cam-like surfaceportion in slidable engagement with theother end-portion of said lock-pin, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casin gthereon and a goods-- containing framework, of a coin-chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cut-away portion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion, and means connected withsaid gate having a member adapted to be brought into on gagement with apackage in said frame-work to close said gate, and when not inengagement with a package causing said gate to assume an opened relationto said chutemember.

l. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casingthereof and a goods containing frame-work, of a coin-chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cutaway portion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion, an arm pivotally connectedwith said gate, a rod oscillato-rily arranged in the casing of thevending machine, and pivotally connected at its upper end-portion withsaid arm, a swing-plate with which the lower end-portion of said rod isconnected, and means connected with said swing-plate adapted to bebrought into engagement with a package in said frame-work to close saidgate, and when not in engagement with a package causing said gate toassume an open relation to said chute-member.

5. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casingthereof and a goodscontaining frame-work, of a coin chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cut-away port-ion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion, an arm pivotally connectedwith said gate, a rod oscillatorily arranged in the casing of thevending machine, and pivotally connected at its upper end-portion withsaid arm, a swing-plate with which the lower end-portion of said rod isconnected, and means connected with said swing-plate adapted to bebrought into engagement with a package in said frame-work to close saidgate, and when not in engagement with a package causing said gate toassume an open relation to said chute-member, consisting of an armprojecting from said swing-plate, and a roller mounted upon said arm,said roller being adapted to be brought into rolling engagement withsaid package.

6. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casingthereon and a goodscontaining frame-work, of a coin-chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cut-away portion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion, and means connected withsaid gate having a member adapted to be brought into engagement with apackage in said framework to close said gate, and when not in engagementwith a package causing said gate to assume an opened relation to saidchute-member, and a vertical chute within said shell or casing, saidchute leading from said gate to a goods-delivery opening with which saidshell or casing is provided, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

7. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casingthereon and a goodscontaining frame-work, of a coin-chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cutaway portion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion,

an arm pivotally connected with said gate, a rod oscillatorily arrangedin the casing of the vending machine, and pivotally connected at itsupper end-portion with said arm, a swing-plate with which the lowerend-portion of said rod is connected, and means connected with saidswing-plate adapted to be brought into engagement with a package in saidframe-work to close said gate, and when not in engagement with a packagecausing said gate to assume an open relation to said chute-member, and avertical chute within said shell or casing, said chute leading from saidgate to a goodsdelivery opening with which said shell or casing isprovided, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In a vending machine, the combination, with the shell or casingthereof and a goodscontaining frame-work, of a coin-chute comprising achute-member formed with an open or cut-away portion, a gate pivotallyarranged with relation to said open portion, an arm pivotally connectedwith said gate, a rod oscillatorily arranged in the casing of thevending machine, and pivotally connected at its upper end-portion withsaid arm, a swing-plate with which the lower end-portion of said rod isconnected, and means connected with said swing-plate adapted to bebrought into engagement with a package in said frame-work to close saidgate, and when not in engagement with a package causing said gate toassume an open relation to said chute-member, consisting of an armprojecting from said swing-plate, and a roller mounted upon said arm,said roller being adapted to be brought into rolling engagement withsaid package, and a vertical chute within said shell or casing, saidchute leading from said gate to a goodsdelivery opening with which saidshell or casing is provided, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

In testimony that we claim the invention set forth above we havehereunto set our hands this first day of June 1912.

FREDERICK G. AXT. BERTRAM B. GOODRICH. lVitnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, FREDK. H. W. FRAENTZEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

